From Pretty Point to leading praise in Kinsale

Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 5:18 am

Hometown: “I’m originally from Pretty Point in Westmoreland County. I was born and raised there my entire life.”

Family: “My dad’s name is Henry T. Smith. He passed and crossed over in 2003. My mother’s name is Carrie B. Tate. She still resides with us today, thank the Lord. She still lives in the place we were raised up in. I’m married to my high school sweetheart. I actually took her to the prom, Tanya Wise, but she’s a Smith now. God graced us to have two daughters. The oldest is Danica and the youngest is Keyana. Danica, wil be 23 this month; Keyona, 18 is in her second year at ODU studying Criminal Justice.

About New Jerusalem: “I’ve been with New Jerusalem Church for 15 years. New Jerusalem is a church where everyone is someone in the sight of the Lord. It is a loving, a compassionate outreaching church not just to local parishioners, but to the community abroad. New Jerusalem is a light on the hill that cannot be hidden.”

Church Outreach: “We are involved with Sponsors for Success. We try to sponsor a class from Cople Elementary School. We have a homeless outreach that we do every month in the Airport Road area. They distribute clothes and food, all the things that someone could possibly need in that condition. We send someone to Richmond. We also try to do a lot with the youth. We’re seeing progress with a lot of things with the youth.”

Favorite Bible verse: “One of the main verses that God has allowed me to zero in on and teach from a lot is the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 6th chapter, verse 23. ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things shall be given unto you.’”

Surprising Fact: Rev. Smith is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served 18 years.

New Jerusalem Baptist Church is located at 3695 Kings Mill Rd. in Kinsale. Phone 804-472-2059 www.njbckingdom.com